𐙚 ansen

🚨 Lamine Yamal on his special friendship with Pau Cubarsí: 🗣️ People see us today playing for Barcelona, representing Spain and achieving things that many young footballers only dream about. But what makes this special for me is that I have known Pau long before all of this happened. "We didn't meet when we became Barcelona first-team players. We didn't become friends because we were suddenly playing alongside each other in front of thousands of supporters. "We grew up together at La Masia. "I remember when we were much younger, when everything was about training, improving and trying to become better footballers. We were just kids with big dreams. Nobody knew how far we would go, but we both believed in ourselves. Even at that age, you could see what kind of player Pau was becoming. He was always intelligent, calm and very serious about defending. Sometimes, I gave him a very difficult time in training.(laughs). I remember those days when I would keep taking players on, dribbling and trying different things. Pau was one of the defenders who had to deal with me regularly. I know there were moments when he probably wished training would finish early because I wouldn't stop! But that is football. We challenged each other, we competed, and we helped each other improve. Actually, I always believed Pau was special. I remember telling people at the academy how good he was. For me, he was one of the best defenders we had. People sometimes talk about my qualities, but they should also understand what Pau was doing at the same age. Today, when I look at him playing for Barcelona, I am not surprised. I know how much work he has put into getting here. "What I appreciate most about him is his personality. We are close, but we are also different people. We both have our own characters, our own ways of doing things. We don't need to be together every second to understand each other. But whenever we are on the pitch, there is a special connection. I know what he can do defensively, and he understands how I play. When I have the ball, I know he is behind me, helping the team build from the back. When he has possession, I know what movements he likes to make and where he wants the ball. That understanding doesn't happen overnight. It comes from years of playing together. And outside football, we support each other. When people criticise him, I know the kind of person and footballer he is. When people put pressure on me, Pau understands because he has experienced the same journey. I was very happy when people started talking about him winning individual awards. I always want him to receive the recognition he deserves. He is not just my teammate; he is someone I have watched grow into an incredible footballer. Our families have also shared this journey. Our fathers have been there, watching us, celebrating our victories and supporting us through difficult moments. Sometimes, when I see them sitting together in the stands, I remember how everything started. Now, look at us. We have gone from playing together as children at La Masia to starting important Champions League and La Liga matches for Barcelona. We have represented Spain together, won trophies and experienced moments we will remember for the rest of our lives. People see the goals, the tackles, the celebrations and the trophies. But they don't always see the years behind them. I am proud of Pau. Him winning the golden boy award? I am proud of what he has become, and I know he still has so much more to give. Hopefully, we can continue doing this together for many years. I want to win more trophies with him, create more memories and keep making our families proud. Because before the world knew Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí as Barcelona footballers, we were simply two young boys at La Masia chasing the same dream. "And that is something I will never forget."